The Tanks Are Coming (1951 film)

The Tanks Are Coming is a 1951 war film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Steve Cochran and Philip Carey. The story is set during World War II in 1944 France. The film chronicles the U.S. 3rd Armored Division's advance across northern France and its attempt to pierce the Siegfried Line.

Not to be confused with the 20-minute educational film of the same name from 1941.

Plot
Normandy, 1944, post-D-Day. A tank commander, Sgt. Joe Davis, is very popular with his men. So much so, that when he is killed during a brief skirmish with the enemy, his crew fall into despondency. That is, until Davis's replacement, Sgt. Sullivan, shows up. To the men, his arrival is like a splash of ice water. "Sully" rouses their anger by ordering the immediate discard of Davis's personal effects. He replaces their popular tank driver with a known drunkard. Sully doesn't stop there. He challenges the loyalty of a German-American crew member named "Heinie." He bullies another man, Kolowicz, into fisticuffs.

In short, Sully transforms a crew of emotional zombies, bemoaning their probable fate, into an over-achieving squad of efficient killers. All of this, despite their hatred of Sully. But in the following months, as they fight their way to the Siegfried Line, both Sullivan and his men begin to share a mutual respect.

Cast

 * Steve Cochran as Francis Aloysius 'Sully' Sullivan
 * Philip Carey as Lt. Rawson
 * Mari Aldon as Patricia Kane
 * Paul Picerni as Danny Kolowicz
 * Harry Bellaver as Lemchek
 * James Dobson as George 'Ike' Eisenhower
 * George O'Hanlon as Sgt. Tucker
 * John McGuire as Col. Matthews
 * Robert Boon as Heinrich 'Heinie' Weinburger
 * Michael Steele as Sgt. Joe Davis
 * Roy Roberts as the Commanding General (uncredited)